The design was based on these 2 cars

 

Yates turns No 88 over to Dale Jr Quote selected text Published September 19th, 2007 in NASCAR News [/align]
Robert Yates confirmed today he is retiring the #88 from Robert Yates Racing (RYR) following the last race of the 2007 Nextel Cup season. He is requesting NASCAR transfer the number to Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for use in competition for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series.
“Ralph Earnhardt drove the #88 Olds in 1957 and because of this number’s history with the Earnhardt family; I felt car #88 should continue with Dale Earnhardt, Jr.,” Yates said. “Younger fans don’t realize I built cars and raced against Ralph. I also had a very close relationship with Dale Earnhardt, Sr. I’m proud to transfer this number to Dale Jr. and let him know how much I appreciate the friendship and competitive racing I’ve always enjoyed with his family,” Yates continued.
Dale Jarrett began driving the #88 Ford Quality Care/Ford Credit Racing Ford in 1996 and promptly won the Daytona 500 in the team’s first race. UPS assumed the role of primary sponsorship in 2001 with Ford Credit staying on as an associate sponsor. Jarrett had 29 victories and won, what was then, the Winston Cup championship in 1999. He also finished in the top 10 in points seven consecutive seasons from 1996 through 2002. Ricky Rudd assumed driving duties in 2007, with sponsorship from Snickers. Doug Yates announced two weeks ago, David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil will be the team’s drivers in 2008 with sponsorship and car numbers to be announced.[/align]

 

Is anyone as tired of Jr. news as I am.

 

"Yes GPD, I am tired of you whoring me all over the internet."

 

Some history behind the No 88Quote selected text Published September 19th, 2007 in NASCAR News [/align]
It was announced that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolets in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, giving him a storied car number for his transition to Hendrick Motorsports. Some history behind the #88 in NASCAR’s top series:
FAMILY TIES: Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s grandfather, drove a #88 Petty Enterprises “Oldsmobile 88″ in the 1957 Virginia 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The elder Earnhardt started ninth and finished 13th in the May 19 Grand National division race won by Buck Baker. Ralph Earnhardt also piloted the #188 entries for Petty in seven events that season, posting three top-10 results and six top-15s.
‘88′ DEBUTS: On Sept. 11, 1949 at Langhorne (Pa.) Speedway, driver Pepper Cunningham started 15th and drove his #88 car, a 1949 Lincoln, to a 33rd-place finish in the Strictly Stock event. Won by Curtis Turner, the race marked the first time a #88 was entered in NASCAR competition.
ALL-STAR ROSTER: The list of drivers who have piloted a #88 car in NASCAR Cup-level competition reads like an all-star race roster. Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Buck Baker, Buddy Baker, Geoffrey Bodine, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, Benny Parsons, Jim Paschal, Fireball Roberts, Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip and Joe Weatherly have all taken turns wheeling it.
65 WINS… AND COUNTING: The #88 has been to Victory Lane 65 times since its first race in 1949, ranking it ninth among car numbers on the all-time win list. It is also 10th in all-time starts (1,264) and 12th in all-time pole positions (52).
WHAT’S IN A NUMBER: Along with its 65 Cup-level wins, the #88 has recorded 52 poles, 315 top-five finishes and 526 top-10s. It has led 18,398 laps and logged nearly 350,000 miles.
PAIR OF 88s: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports operation also uses the #88 on its Chevrolets in NASCAR Busch Series competition. In fact, the current driver of the #88 Busch Series entries, Brad Keselowski, also has family ties to the number. His uncle, Ron Keselowski, ran a #88 car on 43 occasions in 1971, 1972 and 1973 combined, recording a best finish of fifth at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 1972.[/align]